Wampum

Hastert's Idea of Devastation

Speaker of the House Denny Hastert sees no sense in rebuilding New Orleans. The Post:

It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said of federal assistance for hurricane-devastated New Orleans.

"It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed," the Illinois Republican said in an interview Wednesday with the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill.

How did Hastert spend his time since the hurricane hit? Has he focused exclusively on saving lives and property in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama? Has he used his position and power to save the lives and property of people from around the Gulf?

Well, no. Denny has had more important things to do. Just yesterday, Hastert wanted to make sure at least one Cabinet Secretary knew what Hastert considered real devastation:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns visited John Hohenberger's Leland farm to see the damage from the 2005 drought.

U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Plano, who represents the 14th District, which includes Leland, invited the secretary along with U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Rockford, to tour the farm.

They walked through cornfields where the corn is drying to become grain for animal fields. They went through a soybean field where problems include spider mites. The lack of moisture is affecting the number of pods and the number of beans in pods.

"The story repeats itself over and over throughout the district," Hastert said. "One hundred counties in Illinois are affected by the drought."

Hastert, who grew up in the area, said he has never seen a drought to this extent. "It's devastating," he said.

That drying corn is just devastating. People are dying of dehydration in New Orleans but the real devastation is dry corn in Illinois. The nation's third highest ranking elected official sure has his priorities in order.

Posted by Dwight Meredith at September 1, 2005 07:46 PM